Sign flasher



l. HQWHEELOCK.

SIGN FLASHER. APPLlcArloN man MAYHWQH. RENEwEn FEB, 6.1922.

1,428,499. Patentedsept. 5, 1922.

KOK ql Patented Sept. 5, 1922.,

. Ti-:D STATES l Jenn H.

sien rmsnnn.

PATENT oFFicE.

Application led May'll, 1917, Serial No. 168,018. Renewed February G, 1922. Serial No. 534,589.

'To all-whom may concern:

Be it known that `L-JoHN H. WHEELOCK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Sign Flasher, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a controlling system for a sign fiasher or equivalent device.

|The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simple construction for this purpose which will be capable Tof? being modified in an extremely simple way to cause the different parts of the sign to flash on and off in. any order that may be desired Without materially enlarging or complicating the mechanism, and especially to. provide a construction for this purpose which shall be of such ka simple character that it can be contained WithinV very small compass, a-nd also to arrange thel parts so that no sparking or arcing can be caused in the instrument itself, all the arcing being provided for between two terminals which can be located at any desired distancefrom the instrument. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear l'ierej inafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany` ing drawings in Which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a system and mechanism constructed and arranged in accordance with'this invention;

Fig. 2 is composite figure containing end views of the several controlling cams showing them all in their relative positions on the shaft, which is shown in section, and one of them showing the contacting member and connected parts;

Fig. 3 is -a sectional view on the line 3 3 f of Fig. 1 showing the master wheel in ele'- vaton, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to one of the parts of Fig. 2 showing a modified form.

In carrying out the invention l have made use of mechanisms such as shown in my patents granted on April 4,l 1916, Nos. 1,178,431 and 1,178,432', and have illustrated the mechanism shown in the former of those patents herein, althou h theother one could be used ina simi ar' manner.

pose of controlling the order and duration an may be employedI of the energization of the sign circuits.

Wherever l have illustrated an element which may conveniently be constructed and operated the same as in said'Patent 1,178,431 l have given it the reference number used therein and reference may' be had to that patent for further description of such elewith certain parts of the apparatus as will appear.

which are shown. as constantly connected with a motorM so that this motor will be constantly driven. of course, that desired button or switch in the line for turning it off. This motor through gears, not

shown, but located in a gear box 11, drives a shaft 14. 0n this shaft are located the several metallic disks 17, one corresponding with each of the numbers from 1 to \8 and so numbered in Figures `v1 and 2. These disks are provided with conducting projections 62 projecting 'from them and taking the place of the teeth 18 of the above `mentioned patents butin this case each me# tallic projection, except that of #8, is supplemented by an insulating section 63 and a second metallic section 64. The maximum radii of the sections 62, 63 and 64 not only on'each disk, but on all of them, are

lt is to be observedl also that there v are a pair of low` tension terminals 46 1t will be understood,-

.vention the several wires 60 are also given numbers from 1 to 8 inclusive to correspond equal, and the insulating sections 63 are arranged concentric with the adjacent ends of the contacting projections 62 and 64. The contacting propection 62 is provided with an inclinedv entrance surface for gradually raising the contact nger23 andeach metallic section 64 is provided with a slant,

ing surface for gradually lowering `it and then'a sudden drop off at the end. Each of these lingers 23 is mounted to oscillate independently on a pin and is provided with a` projecting' arm 65 normally held up by a spring 24 against an adjusting screw 25. This arm 65 is provided with a spring-projection 66 and is connected in each case with one of the si n circuits 60. The one shown in full in Aig. 2 is connected with that one numbered 2 for example. Ar-

rangedl in position to be engaged by each spring 66 when the corresponding finger 23 is forced out to its limiting position is a -stationary contact 67, which are all con- The circuit, however, is broken at the open i contacts 53--54 For the purpose of completing this circuitthe master contacting finger 29'which is operated by all the teeth on the disk 19 also fixed on the shaft 14` is arranged to swing about the pin 28 in lock and 4Rohland, Serial No. 90,763, filed-1 opposition to a spring 30 to raise its arm 32. This arm has upon it va contact 33 which is separated from the arm 32 by insulation 69,

yand it is adapted'to engage a stationary contact 34. The contact 33 is connected by a wire El with one of the terminals/46 of the low tension circuit while the contact 34 is connected by wire 71 with an electromagnet '48 which is adapted to draw to it an armature 72 and thus raise anarm 73vv and close the contacts 53-54. This switch or relay is not claimed herein as it .constitutes the subject matter of a compamonapplication in the name of Emerling, Whee- April 12, 1916. It operates obviously to close these contacts and also operates to hold the armature 72 away from the core of the electro-magnet when the contacts are open as shown in the drawing. The inward swinging of the finger 29 caused by the spring. 30 and the weight of the arm 32 andthe parts mounted upon it is limited by the adjustable screw 31.

In the operationof the device the control disk #lfirst closes contact in the lighting circuit at that pointby its projection 62 coming` into contact with the contact finger 23, but no current will flow because this circuit from one terminal 56 throligh the selected sign circuit. to the shaft 14 and back to the other terminal 56 is still-open at the contacts"53-54. The operation of the mas-- ter wheel 19 then closes its contact 33.-34 of the low tension current energizing the electro-magnet 48 andthus closing the contacts 53-54. Thehightension `or lighting current then flows through one section of lights on the #l circuit to that finger 23,

73, lcontacts 53--54, and back to the other terminal 56. It will be seen therefore that the arcing is confined to the contacts 53---54 which may be located at any desired place entirely away from the rest of the instrument if desired.

It will be understood that this operation takes place while the linger 23 is-rising.- As it rises to its limit the contact 66-67 is made but no spark is caused here because the current is already flowing through the parallel circuit just described. However, this permits the current through the #l lights on the sign and back tothe line 68 without going-'around through the shaft etc., and therefore ifthe contacts 53--54 separate,- as they immediately do, the v#l lights of the sign will continue to burn withyout flicker or variation. The contact linger 29 immediately after the completion of the circuit for #l lights passes 0H the first tooth 20. Thereafter #2 circuit is completed and brought into loperation in the same way, so after 'this is accomplished the two fingers 23 of the #l and #2 clrcuitswill be seen, therefore, that the #l to .#8 prof jections 62 come in' contact with their respective fingers 23 in each case before the master contacter 29 closes that* circuit at 53-54. As shown in the drawings they remain' in contact with theinfmetal parts 62 for only one-eleventh of the circumference which permits a not too abrupt swinging -of the arms 23 and the closing of the circuit at the contacts 53-54 before the circuit is closed at the contacts y(S6-467. yImmediately after the closing of the contacts 66--67 it is permissible for the arm to pass off the corresponding metal part 62 on to the insulated part 63. If no insulated part were employed, a portion of the lighting circuit would contin-ue to flow from the arm to the shaftv durin the rotation of the latter, but the current mlght vary and the lights flicker dueto slight irregularities between theA relatively moving contacts. By closing the circuit at the contacts 66-67 and thereafter causing the arm 23 to pass onto an insulated section on the shaft, no current willA How throughv the arm .and the main circuit will not pass through any pair of relatively moving convin incarica tooth 20 and breaks all the circuits andI cuts oid' all current through the instrument enf cept that to the motor which continuesI to operate. @The arcing all takes place at 53-54a A l ln Fi 4 l have shown a modification in which t ere are two members 62, 63 and 64' on the disk 17 so that the corresponding finger 23 will be lifted twice during" one rotation and the sign circuit controlled by it in that case will be flashed on and od and then on and od' again. This can be used whether all the others are arranged in the same way or not as desired, and obviously can be multiplied materially without greatly increasing the diameter of the disks and without enlarging the machine in any way except to increase this diameter. ln this way great variation of the sign dashing can be secured with very small additions to the size of the machine and practically none to ,the cost and complication thereof, the wir- -inent is exceedingly simple and compact' and all the arcing can be made to take place at a distance from the main instrument where the electro-magnet 4:8 and connected parts are located;l that on account of the insula- 4 tion 63 there is no possibility of arcing at the ends of the fingers 23 as the arm 29 is connected and disconnected with the circuit, even in the case of accumulation of dust or the like on these surfaces; and that in order to greatly vcomplicate the flashing of the sign no change has to be made in the circuits and no increase lin the size of the instrument except in the diameter of the parts located on the disks 17, so that a wide range of usefulness is secured without material change in the instrument. Obviously the device can be arrangedto control other things than ited to all the features shown, but what l do claim is 1. ln a system of the class described,A the combination of a plurality of circuits in' multiple connected with a source of power, a plurality of controllin elements for said circuits, a shaft on whic said elements arev riz'ed, a master wheel on said shaft, means controlled by said master wheel for connect I ing said controllin elements with said v source of power, an means for connecting f each controlling element with its circuit asv said :shaft'rotates and means for thereafter completing each; circuit vthrough a shunt 'around its corresponding controlling element.y L Y 2. ln a system of the class described, the combination of a plurality of circuits'in multiple connected with a source of power, Y

then act to'cause the shaft toiboY connected with said source of power, and 4means whereby thereafter the controlling elements on the shaft will cause their respective circuit consource of power.

3. lin a sign flasher system', the combination of a plurality of sign circuits in multiple connected with one terminalvof a source of power, a pluralit of simultaneouslyrotatable controlling e ements, one for each ofi said flasher circuits, a master wheel rotatable with them, means controlled by said master wheel for connecting all/of said controlling elements with the other terminal of saidv source of power, means whereby as said elements rotate each ofthem will first be caused to be connected with its sign circuit and the master wheel will then act to cause them to be connected with said other' terminall of the source of power, means whereby thereafter the controlling elements will cause their `respective sign connections to be connected directly with said other terminal of the source of power independently of said elements, said controlling elements being so set respectively as to cause the herein abovespecified series of actions to commence at differenttimes with respect to' the several circuits, and al'so\being arranged so vthat the said connections will be brokenfor all of said sign circuits substantially simultaneously.

4. In a sign asher system, the combination of a plurality of sign circuits in multiple connected with one terminal of a source of power, a plurality of simultaneously rotatable controlling elements, one for each of said flasher circuits, a master Wheel rotatable with them, a separate circuit having normally open means controlled by said master wheel for connecting all of saidcontrolling elements with the other terminal of saidsource of power, means whereby assaid elenections to be connected directly with the iio A ico mentsrotate each of them'rlwill firstbe caused4 to be connected with its signl circuit means whe'reb the. master wheel will thenact to cause t em to be connected with said other terminalof the source ofv power,.and means whereby thereafter the controlling elements will cause their respective sign connections tov be connected directly with saidA other termina-l of the 4source of power independently of said elements. l y I f- 5. In a sign flasher system, the combination of a pluralit of sign circuitsin multi-l ple-connected wit 'a source of power, a plu-f rality ofcontrolling elements, one foreach, ofsaid asher circuits, a continuously rotating shaftvon which said elements are .fixed, a master wheel ofsaid shaft, means .controlled b l said master wheel for connecting said sha with said source of power,`mcans whereby as saidshaftrotates each' ofsaid controlling elements-on the shaft will irst be. caused to connectits sign circuit with the i shaft, means whereby the master wheel will then act to cause the shaft to be connected r with said source of power, and means whereby thereafter the controlling elements on the shaftwill cause their-respective si conf nections toalsov be connected direct y with theisource of power, said .controlling ele' ments being so set on the shaft as to cause the hereinabove specified series of' actions to.4

' commence at vdii'erent times with respect'jto the several controllin devices and their circuits, whereby the s1gn circults will have their connections ywith the source of power vcompleted :one after the other,the master wheel being arranged to break its .contact withsaid source of power after the direct sign circuits are broken. l 6. In a sign iasher system, the combination of a plurality of sign circuits in multiple`l connected with a sourceof power, a plurality of controlling elements, one for each. of

'said flasher circuits, a continuously rotating shaft on which said elements' are fixed, va master wheel on said shaft, means controlled by said master wheel for connectingV said shaft. with said source of power, 'means whereby as said shaft rotates eachofjsaid controllingelements on the shaftV will'firstbe caused to connect its sign circuit with the` shaft, means whereby the ,masterwheel will then'. act*r torcaus'e theishaft to *be connected withsaid source :of power, certain'of said controlling elementsfon the shaftcomprising a` metallic projection' shapedto control the.

'whereby-'cachot said elements will first be v minal of the source 4 of said elements."

,closing other contacts in said 'circuit to` complete the latter upon a predetermined rota- ,tion of a pluralit of sign circuits in multi- 'y ple connected"'wit a :source of power, a plu-- ralityv of controlling elements, one for each ofsalcl'flasher circuits, a separate circuit havving normallyopen'means for connecting all of said controlling. elements'with the other termlnalof said source `of. power, means caused-tube connected 4with its sign circuit and-'willcthenbe connected with said other terminal-of the sourceofpower, and means whereby? the controlling elements will cause: thereafter y their respective connections to be connectedl directlywith said other terof power kindependently c 8L In lafSystem ofthe lclass described, the

combination of. a'source of; power, a circuit connected tothe terminalsthereof, a shaft, a controlllng. element and af master wheel on said shaft, meansfofr closing contacts in saidV circuit by'said controlling `element upon the rotation of said shaft, means Yfor thereafter tion of saidmaster wheel and means for lthereafter shunting the circuit around said .controlling element and breaking connections at the latter.` 9. A. system of the class described, includ-` ing a source of power, a circuit including 'two parallel bran h portions, one of said branch portions having a pair of circuit closers arranged therein in series .and the otherof said' branches having `a single circuit closer, a rotatable shaft, a controlling element and a master wheelcarried thereby,

means foroperating one ofsaid first mentioned circuit closers upon'a predeterminedl 100 rotation of said controlling element, means ,'controlled'by'said master wheel forthereaf- .ter-operating theother of said 'first men- {tioned'circuit closers to complete the circuit,

and meansoperated by a further movement 105 of said controlling elementfor closing of circuit inthe. second mentioned 'branch circuit,

land permitting thefbreaking-of the circuit in the: -first mentioned branch-without arcing.l

i., 'Intestimonywhereoflhavehereunto af- 1,10

`fixed my signature; 

